Onur Özer

The currents of influence that have shaped Istanbul for thousands of years, continue to flow today in the only city in the world situated on two continents. At this crossroad the "Queen of Cities" has sat while Middle Eastern, Asian and European waves of influence surged and receded. In these tides Onur Özer was born and raised and in his music they all come radiating through.

Onur's developmental years were spent listening, not playing an instrument. The melodies and harmonies he composes today are a result of those he heard, interpreted, and "somehow" able to spontaneously play. Club development came way of the Istanbul club scene starting from 1999, close to the time Onur began producing music. From 1999 to 2004 tech and minimal house thrived in Istanbul as did Onur's position in it. In 2003 Onur quit his day job to peruse music exclusively and held various residencies in Istanbul's best clubs. He exported his sound via DJ performances first. In 2005 he released his debut "Freakdisko EP" on Freude Am Tanzen followed by the "Envy EP" on Vakant. From these releases combined with his amplified DJ touring, Onur was recognized as one of Groove magazine's best new comers for 2005.

Onur provided 2 more highly acclaimed Vakant EP's, "Twilight" in 2006 and "Red Cabaret" in 2007 followed by a full length album. The debut album for both Onur and Vakant, "Kasmir" presents the musical world Onur was surrounded by, from the mystical Arabesque and Turkish art music, to the deep synthetic pulses that come through the drivers of some of the world's biggest sound systems on which he plays. Together they melt drifting ideas left and right, east and west, moody to motivated. Onur expresses the music which unexplainably comes out of him sans musical training with textures widely varied.

With his production or DJ sets, Onur evokes a vivid mind melt of intersecting thoughts and movements in synergy venting from a sweltering ancient yet modern melting pot. Funneling the currents that have shaped his hometown together into one truly exceptional torrent, Onur uniquely expresses the style he has become known for as a staple of expanding and far reaching club sounds.